New Amazon Kindle Coming August 27th

by PocketGoddess on July 29, 2010

Amazon has just announced a new version of their Amazon Kindle ebook reader. The main features, aside from a better screen with enhanced contrast, is an overall reduction in size and weight when compared to the second generation device. At 7.5″ x 4.8″ x 0.335″ and weighing in at 8.7 ounces, the new model is 21% smaller and 17% lighter than the previous model, but still has a 6″ display. It is now roughly the same size as Barnes & Noble’s nook ereader device, though slightly thinner and lighter than the nook.

The latest generation Amazon Kindle is now available for preorder and will ship on August 27th. There are now two model choices as well: the model with 3G and WiFi is $189 in either graphite or white, and a new WiFi-only model available only in Graphite is just $139.

Even more intriguing, to me at least, is the new cover design that has also been unveiled alongside the new Kindle. The new covers include a built-in reading light in the top right corner of the case. Plenty of other accessory vendors have done that, so you may be thinking that isn’t terribly revolutionary. You’d be right, except that the new reading lights draw their power directly from the Kindle device itself. That means just one device to charge, and no disposable batteries to deal with–definitely a win-win solution, though the new covers are pretty pricey at $59.99 in your choice of seven different colors.